Justice News

Two Members of Violent Drug Trafficking Ring Sentenced to Prison

Felons Trafficked Drugs and Guns through the ‘Jungle’ Homeless Encampment

Two men who were significantly involved in a violent drug trafficking organization distributing meth, heroin and cocaine in the Seattle area were sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. SON T. NGUYEN, aka “Nine Fingers” aka “Kim,” 43, of Seattle, was sentenced to ten years in prison and LONG V. TRONG aka “Black Long,” 43, of Seattle, was sentenced to six years in prison. The two men were both mid-level members of the drug ring, distributing drugs and using firearms to enforce rules and protect their drug territory. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour imposed the sentence.

The two year investigation lead by the FBI’s Seattle Safe Streets Task Force (SSTF) and Bellevue Police Department’s Eastside Narcotics Task Force (ENTF) revealed that each month the organization distributed 15-20 kilos of cocaine, 10-15 kilos of heroin and five kilos of methamphetamine across a wide swath of the greater Seattle metro area. The two leaders of the drug ring were convicted at trial in April 2016, and face up to life in prison when sentenced next month.

Drug activity associated with the organization occurred over a wide geographic area with many drug sales occurring in the “Jungle” homeless encampment, as well as at homes and near businesses in Seattle, Renton, Shoreline and Kent. LONG V. TRONG controlled the drug sales in an area of the ‘Jungle’ and had other people working for him as drug sellers in the area. Evidence obtained during a court authorized wiretap of phones associated with the criminal group revealed TRONG and others discussed assaults and a homicide in the Jungle tied to the drug trafficking activity.

On multiple occasions members of the drug trafficking organization were arrested with firearms. SON T. NGUYEN delivered a firearm to one of the coconspirators intending that it be used in a violent crime. When he was arrested, SON T. NGUYEN also possessed numerous firearms despite a lengthy criminal history which barred him from possessing guns.

These defendants have already pleaded guilty and been sentenced to prison:

Phuong A. Nguyen, aka “P,” 42, of Kent, Washington – 12 years

Brieanna K. Carlson, 27, of Seattle, Washington – three years

Kimberle S. Alojasin, aka “Nguyen,” 56, of South King County – four years

Kenneth W. Thomas, 55, of SeaTac, Washington – four years

Yen T. Vu, 55, of Seattle – three years

Tony V. Nguyen, 23, of Seattle – two years

This was an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, providing supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved. This investigation was led by the FBI’s Seattle Safe Streets Task Force (SSTF) and Bellevue Police Department’s Eastside Narcotics Task Force (ENTF). The SSTF includes task force officers from the Seattle Police Department, and the ENTF is composed of Bellevue Police Department officers, and agents and officers from the Washington State Patrol, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Redmond, Kirkland, and Mercer Island police departments in partnership with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Additional assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), King County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington State Department of Corrections, and the Kent and Tukwila police departments, and the Seattle Fire Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Vince Lombardi and Kate Vaughan.